T-Rex is extinct. That’s T as in timid.
Rex Ryan toned down his act this season, becoming a less bombastic Rex, and it was a complete disaster. The Real Rex finally showed up at Jets camp yesterday on the last day of practice for his sorry 2012 squad.
The buttfumble couldn’t get Rex to blow his top, but a published report that said he wants out as Jets coach unless owner Woody Johnson commits to fixing the team’s offensive woes got Rex’s blood boiling. He labeled the report “total garbage.’’
The first and most important change that has to be made for 2013 is that Rex must get back to being Buddy’s Bombastic Kid.
Rex lost all that weight, but who knew that he lost his backbone as well?
The fire, though, was back yesterday and tough words were coming out of his mouth again instead of double-talk. It was a pleasure to see. All that was missing was a rip on Bill Belichick.
There is nothing worse than being a phony, trying to be something you are not, and Rex realizes his mistake.
When asked by The Post if he needs to get back to his old ways — the Rex who exploded onto the Jets’ scene, not the watered-down, thin act he became this season — Ryan gave a laugh, paused, looked off into the distance and said, “I don’t know, we’ll see. I think when the season is over you kind of look back at different things. It’s easy being myself, I’ll put it to you that way. It’s probably easier that way than a different way.’’
Yes it is. Be yourself, Rex, swagger and let the world be damned.
Lead and make the tough decisions. Get in your quarterback’s face when you have to and make sure those on the coaching staff are pulling in the same direction instead of pulling you down. If you can’t do that, you don’t deserve to be coach of the Jets, a job you said you want for years to come.
Rex cried yesterday when he talked to his players about his love for his job.
“They know me, there’s no bigger Jet than me,’’ Rex said. “I want to be the Jets head coach for the next 15 years. There are probably a lot of fans out there that hope that that isn’t the case, but you know what, I’m just telling you from my heart that this is the job I always wanted and that’s it.’’
Continue to speak from that heart, Rex.
“I’m not stepping down,’’ Ryan vowed. “Anybody who knows me knows that’s ridiculous. I don’t want to coach anywhere but the New York Jets. Period.’’
To do that, Rex must win. He must get the most out of his players. He must make much quicker decisions on the sidelines, especially regarding the offense. Show toughness. Don’t put up with so many mistakes. He noted that he was “mad as a hornet’’ over the report. Well, be mad as a hornet when players mess up. For much of the season, Mark Sanchez got away with turnover after turnover. Make it clear that there will be immediate repercussions for poor play.
Rex essentially gave up his head coach responsibilities and instead became ringmaster of this circus.
Ask the tough questions of general manager Mike Tannenbaum and your coaching staff. For example: If Sanchez was so successful rolling out and passing the ball the first two seasons, why have the Jets gotten away from such a simple approach?
Irritate opponents. Be brash. Be bold. Be the kind of Jet you want your players to be. If that doesn’t work, at least you failed your way. Don’t give up and don’t give in.
Maybe it will all work, Rex, and just maybe once again the Jets will find themselves in the AFC Championship Game like in your first two seasons.
Remember, Woody Johnson hired Rex Ryan to coach this team.
The mad as a hornet Rex Ryan who buzzed all around his Jets yesterday.